Feather Shape Edges

[Mary36826152p0wt]

I have Photoshop 2024 and I can't figure this out. How do I fade the edges of the dark rectangle? I want it to have a very soft transition to the black.

[Sameer K]

Hey, @Mary36826152p0wt. Welcome to the Photoshop Community. I'll help you figure this out. 

You can add a mask to the shape & use a Basic gradient. I'll share a quick video; let me know if this helps. 

 

Thanks!
Sameer K

(Use '@mention' to tag me when you reply)

[Bojan Živković]

Follow these steps to soften the edges of a shape using the Properties panel:

• Select the shape layer (refer to #1 in my screenshot).
• If the Properties panel isn't visible, open it by going to Window > Properties.
• In the Properties panel, click the Masks icon (refer to #2 in my screenshot).
• Adjust the Feather slider to soften the edges of the shape (refer to #3 in my screenshot).

[barbara_a]

Select the shape layer that has the rectangle. You can quickly select the rectangle itself by Control clicking on the layer.

With the rectangle selected, click the Mask icon at the bottom of the Layers panel to add a mask.

Click the Mask icon in the Layers panel to highlight it. Then use the Feather slider in the Properties panel to adjust the fade on the edges. 

I'm not sure why the layer with the rectangle is set to Multiply mode. If it's because you want the underlaying layer to show through the rectangle, alternatively you could set the layer to Normal mode and lower the opacity of the layer.

[Trevor.Dennis]

Three different answers, and bet there are at least as many ways again. 

I would use the fill the layer with black.

Select the rectangle shape.

Add layer mask, and use Mask properties to feather.

You could unlink the mask to move the feathered rectangle, and adjust the feather non destructively.

So very similar to what has already been said.